Garrison tasting tonight

[Toni]

I'm wondering if anyone knows how Garrison is running their "first crack" at cellared beers tonight? I wasn't going to go, but a good friend is having his birthday party tomorrow and we're headed to Garrison for 10 am. I'd like to set it up so that there's already a box of goodies waiting for him!

[CPR]

Anyone go to this? I was/am working, but it sounded like a time.

[chalmers]

I was on the road when Toni posted, but he did get in for the beer.

I enjoyed the evening. Brian introduced the Barleywine style, and let us know that they actually only use 2-row in the grain bill (and lately only Maritime Malt), which is surprising given the colour of the beer. Until you hear that they boil the wort for hours, so kettle caramelization is what we're seeing. Also had an interesting story on one of the releases that Excise Canada wanted to test for alcohol content. They had calculated the ABV at 10.4%, but it was measured at 11.5%. And that year's (or the year before) barrel aged beer had been estimated at 11.5% (they figured it would pick up one point in the barrel) was actually 14%! They actually got fined a few hundred dollars for that.

We drank: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 Ol' Fog Burner, plus the 2011 Glenora Barrel-aged OFB (this is the 2010 beer, in Glenora barrels for 11 months). Dee Dee's made some sorbet with their Raspberry Wheat, which was excellent, and it was topped with a piece of Sugah's Brew Bar (Dark chocolate with roasted barley inside).
He also announced (and poured) the Beerthief Imperial Chocolate Stout, which is a beer brewed specifically for the Beerthief Newfoundland Special Order Beer Club (ala Bieropholie). 10% ABV, lots of chocolate and roasted malts.

2009 and 2010 were my favourites, as was 2015's. 2015 is a different beast altogether, very bitter and hop aromatic. Daniel dry-hopped this year's brew, bringing it closer to an American BW than the previous years' solidly English-style offerings.

I enjoyed the beers, and going early also allowed us to have first crack at buying beers from their cellar, before it opens to the public today. 2008 Grand Baltic Porter, 2009-2013 OFB, 2010-2012 Winter Warmer, 2012-2014 Spruce Beer, 15th Anniversary Malt, etc. Was impressed that there was no markup on the older beers. I had been expected a "storage fee" of $1/year or something, but was pleasantly surprised at the pricing. 2008 Grand Baltic Porter was still $5.95.

Saw lots of friendly faces, and some new ones, twas a great time, which we capped off at Stillwell. I forgot to ask why there was no 2014 OFB, but I think it was due to the new brewery opening around the same time they'd normally brew it. Maybe?

[CPR]

Sounds awesome Chris, thanks for the report. Really surprising re: the 2-row and the lack of mark-up, and great to hear that 2015 is dry-hopped - we enjoyed on draught at the bar quite a lot. Cheers!

[BobbyOK]

Aw, no Black Lager?

I figured they had given up on it in 2014 - especially after I realized 2013 didn't have a bottling date on it like the prior years. I had one from each year left and drank them about 6 months ago and I think I'd agree the 2009 was my favourite. That was listed at 10.3 - I found the extra abv each year after that made it more boozy tasting and one dimensional. Still have one of each of the Glenora version. The first year's Glenora was actually released the same day my soon to be 4 year old was born, so that one is being carefully saved for several years down the road.